Guadeloupe Operator Orders Repeat Austal Ferries

Third L'Express des Iles Contract Signals Strong Relationship

3 June 2010

Guadeloupe-based ferry operator L’Express des Iles has selected Austal to design and construct two 47 metre high speed catamaran ferries.

The order consists of one vehicle-passenger ferry and one passenger ferry, and is the company’s third contract with Austal since 1997.

The two vessels will be similar to Gold Express and Silver Express (pictured) which were delivered in 2005.

The vessels are intended to operate from Guadeloupe to the Caribbean islands of Marie Galante, Dominique, Martinique and St Lucia, where they will provide an important inter-island link for tourism and trade.

The vehicle ferry will have the capacity for 364 passengers and 10 cars. The passenger ferry will have the capacity for 437 passengers. Both vessels will have a maximum speed of more than 32 knots and are designed to also carry cargo.

Austal Chief Operating Officer Andrew Bellamy said the contract added to the company’s history of repeat customer business.

“Maintaining and supporting existing customer relationships is a core focus of Austal. We are very pleased that a leading commercial operator such as L’Express des Iles has again returned to Austal for new-build ferries.”

“This latest contract also demonstrates Austal’s commitment to providing its customers with affordable, quality products.”

L’Express des Iles currently operates Austal-built ferries “Gold Express” and “Silver Express”, which were delivered in 2005.

Compared to the four-engine arrangements of L’Express des Iles’ previous deliveries, the new vessels will each be powered by two MTU 16V4000 M71 diesel engines driving Kamewa 71 SIII waterjets. This combines with Austal’s expertise in producing durable, lightweight and efficient structures to deliver economical operation with reduced environmental impact, while still providing commuters with short transit times, comfort and service reliability.

The new vessels will be built at Austal’s Western Australian facility and are scheduled for delivery in mid-2011.

Austal has an established service presence in the Caribbean region with a dedicated vessel repair and maintenenace hub located in Trinidad and Tobago. Austal Service personnel are currently on location in Martinique performing maintenance work on “Silver Express” and “Gold Express”.

Austal is also building four 41 metre high speed passenger ferries for the National Infrastructure Development Company Limited (NIDCO) in Trinidad and Tobago, scheduled for delivery later this year.

Vessel Specifications
Principal Particulars
Length overall: 47.00 metres
Length waterline: 41.20 metres
Beam (moulded): 11.10 metres
Depth (moulded): 4.00 metres
Hull draft: 1.82 metres
Capacity
Vehicle-Passenger Ferry
Passengers: 364
Vehicles: 10 cars
Cargo: 17 crates
Passenger Ferry
Passengers: 437
Cargo: 15 crates
Propulsion
Main engines: 2 x MTU 16V4000 M71 diesel engines
Waterjets: 2 x Kamewa 71S3NP
Performance
Speed: More than 32 knots
Classification
Bureau Veritas
1 X HULL X MACH X AUT-CCS, HSC - Cat. A,
French Flag

Austal press release